Umbrella.



Patented Dec. I2, |899.

,Vail/54.

A. B. CAM-:non:

U MBRELLA.

(Application led July 26, 1899,)

(No Model.)

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ing therewith.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ADDISON B. CAMERON, OF CAMERON, MONTANA.

UMBRELL SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 638,700, dated December 12, 189e.

Application tiled July 26, 1899. Serial No. 725,185. (No model.)

To tZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ADDIsoN B. CAMERON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cameron, in the county of Madison and State of Montana, have invented a new and useful Umbrella-Frame, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to umbrellas, and particularly to means for automatically opening the same, the object in view being to provide an umbrella that can be opened with one hand while the other hand of the person pursuing such operation is occupied and also to readily open the parts of the umbrella on the supporting-*stick by pressure of a portion thereof against anobj ect, the mechanism for acquiring such operations being simple and effective, strong and durable, and comparatively inexpensive and also regulated as to strain or tension to such a degree as not to injure the fabric covering of the umbrella or loosen the several connected parts.

The invention consists, essentially,of a stick having a sleeve slidingly mounted on the outer end, a spring being held partially against the sleeve and within the adjacent portion of the stick and said sleeve having the ribs movably connected thereto and provided with hinged stretchers with intermediate breakjoints, the inner parts of the stretchers being attached also to the sleeve by braces, as well as to the stick, andthe said sleeve held locked at times through the medium of a sliding collar connected thereto by a wire rod and coacting with a catch on the stick.

The invention further, consists of the details of construction and arrangement of the several parts, which will be more fully hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation of a stick and a part of an umbrella-frame embodying the features of the invention and illustrating the position of the parts in dotted lines when closed. Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional elevation of a portion of the stick and the improved devices coact- (Shown open in full lines and closed in dotted lines.) Fig. 8 is a detail sectional view of a catch for the locking-collar of the improved device.

Similar numerals of reference are employed handle or grip a spring-catch :2, which may be of the usual resilientwire construction and held within the said stick at opposite portions. The outer end of the stick 1 `is formed with a longitudinal socket or bore 3 and thereover is slidingly iitted a sleeve 4, having an outer closed thickened end 5. 1ntermediate the ends of the said sleeve 4 a circumferential projection or ring G is located and either formed in tegral with the said sleeve or attached thereto. The inner ends of the ribs 7 are movably connected to the projection or ring 6 at regular intervals, and to the said ribs the outer ends of stretchers S are pivotally secured and at their inner ends movably attached to a collar 9, fixed permanently on the stick 1 at a suitable distance from the outer end of the latter. The stretchers 8 have hinged joints 10 therein at a suitable distance from the ribs 7, said hinged joints opening upwardly and dividing the stretchers into inner and outer sections 11 and 12. These hinged joints 10 will be preferablyof that class known as rule joints, that freely break when pressed in one direction and resist movement in the opposite direction of the parts which they connect. The inner sections 12 of the stretchers S have the lower ends of braces 13 movably attached thereto, the upper ends of said braces being pivotally connected also to the projection or ring 6 on the sleeve 4 below the points of attachment of the ribs 7 thereto. To the inner end of the sleeve 4 a wire or wire rod 14 is secured and at its opposite end also att-ached to a collar 15 freely movable on the stick 1 in a vicinity of the catch 2, said collar being formed with a longitudinal slot 16 to receive the projecting locking portion of the said catch. The catch 2 has a thumb projection 1G in advance of the collar 15 when the latter is locked, so that the said catch may be released from the collar without touching the latter and thereby avoid pinching the fingers.

The sleeve 4 operates in one direction against the resistance of the coiled spring 17, which is in part seated in the socket or bore 3 in the IOO outer end of the stick 1 and also bears against the inner wall of the thickened end 5 of the said sleeve. The sleeve 4 is made sufficiently thick and strong to resist hard usage and the strain that may be brought to bear thereon by constant use, and by extending over the outer end portion of the stick 1 the latter is also protected thereby.

When the umbrella-frame is in closed condition, the ribs 7 lie closely against the stick 1, with the stretchers S folded, as clearly shown in dotted lines, and between the braces 13, which will also be close to the stick and the said ribs. To hold the parts in open position, the collar 15 is provided and connected to the sleeve 4, as set forth, said collar moving toward the grip end of the stick 1 and receiving the catch 2, and thereby retaining the said sleeve 4 in an inwardly-drawn position against the repellent action of the spring 17. To acquire this open condition, it is only necessary for the operator or person carrying the umbrella to press the thickened end 5 of the sleeve 4 against some stable object or surface. This will move the sleeve 4 inwardly over the outer` end of the stick 1 and at the same time exert an inward pressure on the braces 13, which will throw the section 12 of the stretchers 8 open and simultaneously throw out the ribs 7. Vhen these parts have assumed the several positions just set forth and as shown by Fig. 1, the collar 15 will be in engagement with the catch 2. This Inode of opening the umbrella is one of the essential characteristics resulting from the precise arrangement of the several parts as specified. It will be understood, however, that the umbrella is not confined exclusively to this inode of opening the same, as at times the collar 15 may be grasped and pulled toward the grip end of the stick or in a direction reverse to the movement of the slide of an ordinary umbrella. In closing the umbrella it is only necessary to release the catch 2 from the collar 15 and the spring 17, which is always compressed when the sleeve 4 is drawn inwardly, is free to suddenly lthrow out or expel the said sleeve 4 and simultaneously draw upwardly on the braces 13 the sections 12 of the stretches S and throw the ribs 7 and sections 11 of said stretchers inward in the folded position. (Shown by dotted lines in Figs. 1 and 2. i

The advantage to be gained by the improved umbrella-stretcher heretofore set forth is the convenience afforded thereby at times when it is troublesome to raise or lower an umbrella without disengaging both hands and leaving them free to manipulate the umbrella. It frequently happens that While carrying a valise or bundle in one hand it is necessary to use an umbrella that may be carried in the other hand in closed condition. It is necessary in the common form of umbrella to entirely free the hands before a successful opening operation can be obtained and likewise in closing the same. By the present device the umbrella can be quickly raised with one hand by pressing the sleeve against some object, as before indicated, or when the use of an umbrella is not further desired, a simple pressure on the catch 2, holding the collar 15, will result in an immediate closing of the parts.

l To accommodate various applications of the the invention, changes in the form, proportion, size, and minor details of constructions can be resorted to within the spirit and without sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is- In an umbrella, the combination of a stick, a sleeve movably'mounted on the outer end of the said stick, a spring interposed between the said sleeve and stick, ribs movably attached to the said sleeve, stretchers having intermediate hinged joints opening upwardly and respectively connected to the stick and the ribs, braces movably attached to the inner portions of the stretchers and also to the sleeve, and means for holding the sleeve drawn inwardly against the repellent action of the spring.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ADDISON Bl CAMERON.

l/Vitnesses.:

ERVIN MORRIS, ELMER E. AYERs. 

